Global Recording Artist of the Year

IFPI publish a global recording artist chart to accurately capture the popularity of artists across streaming channels, alongside digital and physical album and singles sales. The 2016 chart is the fourth time the chart has been compiled. The independently verified chart includes sales of albums — across digital, CD and vinyl formats; singles, both downloaded and physical; on-demand streams and music videos. It includes all the music of each artist featured, not just one track or album. It uses album equivalent units to combine measurements of downloads, physical sales and streams.